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OBERLIN POLLEGE. 



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ITS BUiLDir^C ERA. 



-^Its m E^i^do^^z^irrer^t * NecessitieB,^ 



-^STATISTICS. 



Illustrations and Description of Buildingj 



1S87. 



Beacon Publishing Co., Printers, Akhon, 0. 



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THE BUIl.DING ERA. 

When Oberlin celebrated its serai-centennial in 1883, its buildings were utterly inadequate to the work. Four years have 
witnessed a change, probably not paralleled in college history. Six important buildings, five of them of stone, have arisen ; and 
there is still the prospect of a fine Memorial Building to be erected on the site of the old homestead, by Mr. F. N. Finney, of 
Milwaukee, Wis., to the memory of his father, the late President Finney. These buildings are all illustrated and described in 
the latter part of this circular. This outgrowth, so noble in architecture and so timely in relief, will ever mark these years as 
the building era of Oberlin College. 



The Endnwrnent 

At the opening of the semi-centennial year was $272,805.67, which sum was as utterly inadequate to the work as were the build- 
ings. The endowment, Jan. ist, 1887, amounts to $381,771.28. This shows a gain; but the growth of necessities has 
kept even pace with the growth of endowment. To realize the inadequacy of this sum, it must be remembered that the 
term Oberlin College is in some respects a misnomer. Besides the college proper, there are also the Theological Department, 

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the Conservatory of Music and the Preparatory Department, one of the largest classical preparatory schools in the country. 
The income from this endowment must bear the burdens of all. There is some economy in having these schools clustered 
together ; but if any one of these four departments should have the entire endowment, it would not have a more generous pro- 
vision than its needs would warrant : nor, excepting the Conservatory of Music, beyond that afforded many sister schools 
west as well as east. 

In all the years but one of Oberlin's history current cojitribiitions have been called out to supplement the income of this 
meager endowment. But contributions for current expenses, always unreliable, steadily fail as age and the notion of stability 
come to an institution. Besides, the specialties of Oberlin by which she made special friends for special contributions — 
her anti-slavery stand, her theological dogmas, her co-education, and higher education for women, and her temperance atti- 
tude — are no longer specialties, but are the possessions of the world. Contributions for current expenses must still be sought; 
but an endowment, which shall be somewhat adequate to the needs, is the great primal necessity. 

From what sources this endowment is to come has not yet been revealed. Possibly some man, feeling the inspiration of 
the superb benefactions made at various times to found new institutions of learning, will question with himself whether there 
are not most important elements of institutional as well as individual character which lie beyond the power of money to pur- 
chase ; and whether it would not be wise to exercise such princely munificence where the characteristics of economy, persistent 
work, moral endurance and moral enthusiasm have been fully developed. The storms of fifty years have sent the Oberlin 
roots deep into the soil. Surely it Avould seem safer and in its noblest and widest aspect more inspiring, to nurture such a 
life than to trust the chances of some new growth. It would be a new departure in the way of great benefactions which the 
thoughtful world would gladly welcome. 

But meanwhile as in the past, Oberlin must search out everything, small as well as great, which will help forward the 
work, and in this search we ask the aid of every friend. 

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Aside from the customary endowment gifts, and provisions made by will, the trustees of Oberlin College have for many 
years accepted endowment funds subject to an «//«///(>'. Persons unable to spare the income from some invested funds have 
given the college these funds, and the college has paid a stipulated interest during their lives. The assurance of income in 
this case is perhaps greater than in that of ordinary investment. Institutions of learning that have arrived at the point of 
stability make good trust companies. They have carried trusts through civil and commercial vicissitudes as long as any other 
human agencies. Their publicity, their benevolent purpose, the character of the men associated with them, the love of 
alumni, ever helpful and jealous of their honor, all conspire to this result. The character of the transaction also assures the 
income. It is the purpose of the college not to promise an annuity greater than can be earned by its use of the principal fund. 
But should that fund by any chance be encroached upon somewhat, there is still no embarrassment ; and the college is the 
gainer at the close of the transaction. As a provision for old age or for children, or for some dependent friend, this annuity 
plan presents some special advantages. The income is unfluctuating. As a whole it cannot be bartered or stolen, or in any 
way lost by individual carelessness, ignorance or improvidence. Any inquiries about this matter may be addressed to the 
Secretary of the College, and will receive prompt attention. 

Undoubtedly, if the $300,000 and more contributed during the past four years had been placed Avithout restriction in the 
hands of the trustees, not so large a portion would have gone into buildings. Yet every cubic foot is needed, 
and if there were a proposition to exchange Warner Hall, Spear Library, Peters Hall, Talcott Hall, Baldwin Cottage, or 
Sturges Hall for its value in endowment, some department would suffer so keenly that the proposition would probably be 
rejected. Oberlin has experienced an immeasurable relief in these buildings ; and while they have added to the endowment 
necessities, not simply for their care, but much more for the enlarged opportunities of work which they offer, they also form 
a solid basis of hope that these necessities will be in time relieved, and possibly in as wondrous a way as the buildings 
themselves have come. 

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SiaifsiiES. 

Financial Summary, nee. 31, 1886. 

INVESTED FUNDS. 

The Income of which to pay Teachers, . . . $381,771.28. 

28,750.00. 



The Income of which to aid Students, . '. . . 
On which the College pays Annuities during 

lifetime of donors, 56,325.00. 

INCOME FROM REGULAR SOURCES. 

Interest on Investments, $27,418.47. 

Tuition, Incidentals, Fees, and Sundries, . . . 18,718.13. 

Total Income, $46,136.60. 

EXPENDITURES. 

Salaries, ; . . . $42,938.34. 

Incidentals, Fuel, Printing, Insurance, care of 

Grounds, Taxes, Apparatus, etc., .... 11,322.57. 

Total expenditure, $54,260.91. 

The deficit, $8,124.31, has been made up from sums 
sadly needed for other purposes. 



Attendanee. 



1833 — Opening number from seven States, . , . 44. 

^^35"5i — Average yearly attendance, 479. 

1851-61 — " " " (sale of scholarships) 1202. 

1861-65 — " " " (war times) .... 753. 

1866-80 — " " " 1 143. 

1881-87— " " " 1376. 

During the year 1887, 1403 students have been con- 
nected with the various departments, nearly one-half com- 
ing from beyond the boundaries of Ohio, and represent- 
ing fifty-seven States, Territories, and foreign countries. 
This number is distributed in the various departments as 
follows : 

Theology, 85. 

Philosophy and the Arts. 

Classical — Gentlemen, 156 ; Ladies, 52 208. 

Philosophical — " 29 " 57 86. 

Literary — . . " 152 152. 

Select Studies, " 16 " 55 71. 

Preparatory Department. 

Classical — Gentlemen, 219 ; Ladies, 16 235. 

English — " 74 " 170 244. 

Conservatory of Music. 

Gentlemen, 75 ; Ladies, 403 478. 

Deducting those who take music as an additional 
study and have been previously reckoned, 156, 322, 



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"Oberlin, the Colony and the College," by President Fairchild, 
issued at the semi-centennial celebration in 1883, gives a history of 
the enterprise up to that date. It is a book of 370 pages, published 
by E. J. Goodrich, of Oberlin, and sold by him at ^1.50, post paid. 
This should be in the hands of every friend who would understand 
clearly the growth of the past four years, as indicated in the follow- 
ing pages. 

In passing up Main St. from the hotel, the visitor soon stands 
at the entrance of Tappan Walk, an avenue of elms leading across 
the park to the main entrance of Peters Hall. A little further up 
Main St. can be seen Stewart Hall, where board is afforded at a very 
low price, the students doing most of the work. The college also 
owns the adjoining property, and it is hoped that in time a building 
better fitted to carry out this purpose will be erected. 



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Entering Tappan Walk, Spear Library is seen upon the right. The material used in this building, as in all the 
others, except Sturges Hall, is the famous Ohio building stone from the neighboring quarries. This stone has been afforded 
very cheaply, adding but little to the cost of the buildings. The walls are laid in rock face courses, and simplicity in details 
has been sought. But the beauty of the material, and the harmony of the architectural proportions have given to this 




group of buildings an unusually pleasing and impressive effect. AVeary & Kramer, of Akron, O., have been fhe archi- 
tects of Spear Library, Peters Hall, Talcott Hall and Baldwin Cottage ; Mr. A. B. Jennings, of New York City, of Warner 
Hall ; Coburn & Barnum, of Cleveland, O., of Sturges Hall. 

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Spear Library Is a Gothic structure, two stories in height, and about seventy feet square. Entering the vestibule, one 
finds himself at once midway between the lower story, where for the present is the Museum, and the upper story, where is the 
reading-room and adjacent stack rooms for books. 

The Reading-Room is 64 by 40 feet, exclusive of two large bay windows ; and 30 feet above is the ample sky-light. In 

the center is the marble statue of the Reading Girl, the gift of Mr. Aaron 
Healy, of Brooklyn, N. Y. 

Above the low book-cases, the walls are adorned with portraits of teachers 
and others. The room affords ample and delightful accommodations for more 
than a hundred readers. The building is constructed on the slow-burning 
principle, so as to be safe from. fire. All timbers, joists, rafters and roof 
boards are coated either with plaster or asbestos. The floors are laid on a bed- 
ding of mortar. The rooms are separated from each other by fire walls and 
iron-clad doors. The entire building affords shelf room for 175,000 volumes. 
The cost of the building, exclusive of furnishings, was about ^26,000, the gift 
of Rev. Chas. V. Spear, formerly of Pittsfield, Mass., but now of Oberlin. In 
addition to this and other important gifts, Mr. Spear has rendered the college 
a very valua'ble service in the arrangement of the Museum, involving,- as it 
has, a large amount of time and skill. 

The Chapel addition belongs to this period, an addition made possible by 
the timely and generous donation of Dr. J. A. Steven, of Hartford, Conn. By this change the front is now on College Street, 
two new stair-cases have been provided, the audience hall has been much improved, a pipe organ is in place, and in the 
tower are a clock and bell, the gift of Mr. C. H. Pond, of New York. 




At the head of Tappan Walk is the noble Norman entrance to 

PfiiErs HhIL 

This building in its extreme dimensions, is 130 by 142 feet, three stories in height, besides 
a nine foot basement. It contains 13 recitation rooms, varying in size from 20 by 25 to 30 by 



45 ; a ladies' waiting room, and faculty room, five professors' studies, three large rooms for -^ 





physical laboratories and apparatus ; three ample rooms 
for college societies, each provided with a committee room 
and closets ; a large audience room on the third floor with 
a capacity for 500 or more ; an astronomer's room, tele- 
scope tower, janitor's quarters, an entrance court, 40 by 50 
feet, with the grand stairway and corridor reaching rooms 
on upper floors. The basement, besides furnace, fuel and 
cold-air rooms, furnishes two large apartments for phys- 
ical laboratories, two for dry closets, a workshop and 
■^Z^Siy store-rooms. A freight elevator leads from the basement 
to the attic. Besides the telescope tower, 20 feet in diam- 



eter, with walls two feet thick, a large deck on the top of the building, easily accessible, furnishes a place for study of the 
geography of the heavens by an entire class. 

The aim has been to make the building ample and complete in all its provisions, and so it has proved in use. The spa- 
cious central court, opening up through two stories, and amply lighted, is a most attractive center of college activity ; and it 
has also been effectual in shutting off disturbing noise from the surrounding class rooms. Special attention has been paid to 
the ventilation of the class rooms, and the air is as fresh at the close as at the beginning of the recitation. Four large 

shafts in the four quarters of the building carry off the foul air, while warm, fresh 
air is furnished in great abundance by nine Smead furnaces. The health and 
comfort of the building is also promoted by the Smead dry closet system. These 
features have also been incorporated in Talcott Hall and Baldwin Cottage. 

The cost of this building, exclusive of furniture, was about $70,000. Cap- 
tain Alva Bradley, of Cleveland, O., furnished the first $20,000. After the death 
of Captain Bradley, Mr. R. G. Peters, of Manistee, Mich., provided for the ad- 
ditional §50,000 needed to complete the structure. 

Turning south from Peters Hall, there stands upon the corner the centra] 
portion of 




'arner 



HalL 



AVhen completed, the building will extend 150 feet on Professor St., and 
120 feet on College St. The more important of these wings containing the Con- 
cert Hall is in process of erection. It is the gift of Dr. and Mrs. Lucien C. War- 
ner, of New York City, who have expended upon this central portion about 
$42,000, to which must now be added something more than $25,000, the cost of 
the new wing. Not only the money has come from this source, but Dr. Warner 
has given his personal attention to every detail of the plans, and has made the 

contracts with 
the builders. 
Probably no 
i m port a n t 
building ever 
•cost the col- 











lege officers less anxiety and care, and certainly no building 
has proved better adapted to its use. It is practically four 
stories in height, which stories arc made accessible by easy 
and well lighted flights of stairs, and also by an elevator 
which is kept constantly running. Here will be found a 
delightful and ample entrance hall, offices, library, rehearsal 
rooms, lesson rooms and practice rooms. But the build- 
ing is serving a higher and nobler purpose than is indicated 
by these arrangements. Before its erection there was a 
growing feeling that Oberlin might have something of 3 



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mission in preventing that divorcement between musical culture and spiritual culture whicli seems to threaten on every hand. 
The traditions of the place, -the presence in large numbers of both sexes, and the counter-balancing influences of other forms 
of culture, gave Oberlin the greatest advantages in attaining this high ideal. But this building, more than anything else, has 
given a visible shaping to these thoughts in the minds of all, and has been the direct means of the adoption of the Conserva- 
tory of music by the trustees as an integral part of the university work of Oberlin College. 

Next in order come three buildings devoted more 
especially to the use of women. Two of these buildings 
are in answer to the need created by the burning of the 
Ladies' Hall, in January, 1886. The most important of 
these, situated on the site ofthe burned building, is 

TelEntt HelL 

Its cost, with heating apparatus, is about |!45,ooo. Of 
this sum Mr. James Talcott, of New York City, gives 
$20,000. The balance is made up by insurance money and 
other contributions. It affords rooms and board for some 
2 sixty young women, and table board for an equal number 
of young men. Here, also, are public reception rooms, and the office of the Principal of the Ladies' Department, making the 




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building semi-official in its use, which characteristic is well expressed in its architec- 
ture. Its spacious entrance porch of stone, with its unrestricted view across the col- 
lege campus, fitly belongs to a college, which first of all colleges, gave to women gen- 
erous welcome to the highest scholastic culture. Passing from the porch, through a 
vestibule, one enters a large central hall or sitting room, with its hospitable fire-place 
and attractive staircase, while clustered about it, with ample 
openings, are the reception room, dining room, office and par- 
lor, making all available as one whole in case of receptions. 
In the second and third stories are more private gathering pla- 
ces and reading nooks for the occupants of the building. The 
provision in case of sickness is made as perfect as possible by 
complete isolation, an open fire-place and a southern ex- 
..^ - '^ posure. 

jj?^<^\ 'phe sister building, sharing the same grounds, is 









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Baldwin GnitaflE, 

It is the gift of Mr. E. I. Baldwin, of Cleveland, O., and its cost is something over 
$20,000. It lacks the public rooms and public character of Talcott Hall, and provides 
accommodations for about half the number of boarders. But in its architecture and 
in its interior arrangements, the "cottage" idea receives its completest exemplification. 
The long, sheltering roofs, the deep porches, the large and yet home-like reception 

room with window 
seat and recesses and 
fire-place, speak of 
healthful protection 
against the nervous 
unrest that belongs 
to more stately halls 
and greater numbers. 
These two buildings, 
of course, accommo- 
date but a small pro- 



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portion of the students. The large majority are cared for under that best of "cottage" plans — in the homes of the citizens of 
Oberlin. 

The brick building next to Baldwin Cottage has recently been purchased by the College, to be used as a boarding house. 
It is known as the "Allen House," named from Professor Allen, whose home was on this spot so many years. 

On the other side of the street from these halls, and near the 
'')fs«', ^?==^ /— W\ Soldiers' Monument, is 



SlurgES HelL 



This is a brick structure of pleasing architecture, costing about 

^^^^i <?r3,ooo. Of this sum. Miss Susan Sturges, of Mansfield, Ohio, gave 

$5,000. In the first story is a very beautiful assembly room for the gen- 

■ eral gatherings of the Ladies' Department. In the second story are com- 

— modious rooms for the two ladies' literary societies of the college. In 
order of erection, Sturges Hall came first. But the turf about it is not 
more than fairly rooted before the grass springs up about Talcott Hall, 
the last finished of this noble array of college buildings, 




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